Life in prison sought for alleged drug dealer

GRAND RAPIDS -- Federal prosecutors want a Newaygo County man sentenced to prison for life if he is convicted of drug trafficking charges that allege he and four others shipped more than 2,200 pounds of marijuana into West Michigan.

Daniel Gingrich

Daniel Lewis

Doald Risner

Larry Owens

Marco Gutierrez

Rodney Chupp

Rodney Chupp, 42, is at the center of the alleged dope ring that funneled large amounts of drugs from Texas in modified vehicles and via private courier services, according to an indictment returned against Chupp and his alleged partners.

State and federal authorities say Chupp, Larry Owens, 46, of Bitely, Daniel John Lewis, 54, of White Cloud, and Marco Antonio Gutierrez, 34, of Walkerville, and Jesus-Cordero Gallegos ran the marijuana between 1999 and earlier this month. The drugs were sold in Newaygo, Kent and Muskegon counties, investigators said.

They were indicted on conspiracy charges and the records were unsealed following their arrests last week.

Two other men, 45-year-old Donald Risner of White Cloud and 33-year-old Daniel Gingrich of Bitely, were arrested on local charges connected to the drug trade, police said.

Based on Chupp's prior drug convictions in Newaygo County in 1991 and Florida in 1985, Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Courtade is seeking mandatory life imprisonment, federal court documents show.

State records show Chupp served six years in prison for drug distribution and was released in 1997. In 1985, he was ordered to serve three years of probation stemming from a Florida offense for selling marijuana, according to online records.

The other men accused by federal authorities would have a sentencing range of 10 years to life, if convicted.

Each has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Investigators said nearly 60 officers conducted search and arrest warrants in Newaygo and Oceana counties and in Texas in recent days.

The alleged conspiracy involved Chupp arranging purchases of hundreds of pounds from Cordero-Gallegos and Gutierrez, and then shipping it to Michigan.

Chupp, authorities said, recruited couriers and covered legal costs, as well as fines and probation fees, if people were arrested. Lewis is accused of storing marijuana and cash for Chupp and assisting in selling the product. Owens was a customer of the racket, documents show.

The conspirators used violence and threats of violence to intimidate members of the conspiracy, authorities said in court documents.
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